The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially demanded the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft following the controversial no-handshake episode during the India-Pakistan Asia Cup clash. The board alleges that Pycroft advised both teams to skip the traditional pre- and post-match handshakes, calling it a breach of the spirit of cricket and a move that aggravated tensions between the two nations. The PCB’s letter to the International Cricket Council (ICC) has warned of potential consequences, including Pakistan pulling out of remaining Asia Cup matches if the demand is not met.
The controversy began when there was no handshake between the two captains at the toss and none between players at the end of the game. Indian players, led by Suryakumar Yadav, walked straight off the field after sealing a seven-wicket win, while Pakistan’s players reportedly waited near the boundary rope for the customary gesture. Pakistan’s camp maintains that they were willing to observe the ritual but were discouraged by the match referee before the game even started. The PCB claims this intervention was unnecessary and violated long-standing protocols under the MCC’s Spirit of Cricket guidelines.
PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi strongly criticized the decision and demanded Pycroft’s immediate removal. According to sources within the board, Pakistan has taken the matter very seriously, as they see it as an issue of respect and fair play rather than a mere symbolic gesture. Naqvi said that cricketing ties between India and Pakistan are already strained and such incidents risk further politicizing an already high-voltage fixture. He added that Pakistan will not hesitate to boycott matches if corrective action is not taken quickly.
The ICC, meanwhile, is expected to respond formally in the next 24 hours, but early reports suggest that the governing body is unlikely to remove Pycroft in the middle of the tournament. Match referees are rarely substituted unless there is a major breach of conduct, and ICC insiders have indicated that Pycroft’s directive may have been a precautionary measure to prevent any on-field confrontation in light of political tensions between the two countries.
If the ICC refuses PCB’s demand, the tournament could face a major standoff. Pakistan has upcoming fixtures that will determine their place in the Asia Cup semifinals, and any withdrawal would result in forfeiture and possible sanctions. Analysts believe PCB’s aggressive stance is also aimed at asserting its position ahead of future ICC events where political sensitivities are involved.
The episode has divided opinion across the cricketing world. Some fans and experts argue that India’s decision to avoid handshakes was understandable given the political climate and recent security concerns. Others feel that skipping such gestures damages the image of cricket as a unifying sport. The coming days will determine whether this dispute remains a war of words or snowballs into a larger crisis that impacts the remainder of the tournament.
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